Illuminated sign



Feb. 1938. H HAMMER 2,106,891

ILLUMINATED SIGN Filed Aug. 9, 1957 Patented Feb. 1, 1938 unire.si-.raras .PATENT OFFICE Price Brothers, Inc., tion of IllinoisApplication August 9',

l l Claim.

This invention relates to signs generally, and more particularly to anilluminated sign, and has for its main object the provision of a signstructure, including a hollow shell open at its forward end only, whichforward end is partially closed by an opaque member, the outer edge ofwhich is spaced from the edge of the opening to produce a narrowpassage, whereby when the hollow shell is illuminated, the effect of thelight passing through said passage will be that of a luminescent tube ofthe type containing illuminated neon gas or the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sign structure of thecharacter described, including a light source disposed within a hollowmember, and means for shielding said light source within said hollowmember so that only a narrow portion of the interior of the hollowmember may be Viewed, with the result that said narrow portion willpresent the effect of a luminescent tube when the interior of the hollowmember is illuminated.

A further object of this invention is to provide a sign structure of thecharacter described which will be simple in manufacture and assembly,which may be constructed along lines convenient for low costmanufacture, and which will at the same time be highly efficient forcarrying out the purposes for which it is designed.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists in certain novel featuresof construction, arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter morefully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, andparticularly pointed out in the appended claim, it being understood thatvarious changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of thestructure may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificingany of the advantages of the invention.

For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of my invention, I haveillustrated in the accompanying drawing preferred embodiments thereof,from an inspection of which, when Considered in connection with thefollowing description, my invention, its mode of construction, assemblyand operation, and many of its advantages should be readily understoodand appreciated.

Referring to the drawing in which the same characters of reference areemployed to indicate corresponding or similar parts throughout theseveral figures of the drawing:

Chicago, Ill., a corpora- 1937, Serial No. 158,089

(Cl. li0--130) Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a sign structureembodying the principles of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 ofFig. 1.

Referring to the drawing more particularly by characters of reference,the numeral I0 designates a hollow base which may be formed of anysuitable material, such as cast metal or the like and which may assumeany size or shape. As the embodiment illustrated is to be used as acounter sign, the same may be provided with the rubber feet I I so as toavoid injury to the surface upon which the sign may be disposed.

Mounted within the base I0 is an electric light socket I2 ofconventional construction, to which is connected the conducting cords I3leading to a source of electric current. The socket I2 is adapted toreceive a suitable light bulb I4 for producing the desired illuminationfor the sign structure.

Secured to the base I0 is a hollow member I5 which may be formed of anysuitable material such as sheet metal or the like, said member beingclosed on all sides except at the forward end thereof, and surrounds thelight bulb I4 so that when a circuit is closed to the latter, theinterior of the hollow member I5 will be illuminated. The interiorsurface of the member I5 is provided with a suitable coating of paint orthe like to give to the same a relatively dull finish, and also a smoothand uniform surface.

The forward open end of the member I5 has arranged therein an opaqueplate member I5 of suitable material such as glass or the like, havingthe inner surface thereof provided with a suitable coating to render thesame opaque, said member being of such a size and shape as to partiallyclose the forward open end of the member I5, except for a narrow band orpassage I8, which bandY is formed between the outer edge of the platemember I6 and the edge of the forward open end of the member I5.

In the embodiment illustrated, said opaque plate member is supported onthe base I0 by means of a channel Il, which is secured to the base I0,and within which the bottom edge of the plate member I6 is adapted to bereceived.

From the above, it will be apparent that when the light bulb I4 isconnected to a source of current, it will illuminate the interior of themember I5 and the opaque plate member I6 will be effective for blockingout all of said illuminated interior, except for the narrow band i8,which band will present the appearance of a luminous tube of light,thereby giving to the sign a highly attractive appearance.

, If desired, the bulb I4 may have disposed thereover a colored glassshield 20 with the result that the band of light produced when the signstructure is illuminated will be that of the color of the shield 20.Thus, by varying the color of the shield 20, diierent color effects maybe produced in the sign structure.

It will also be noted that the outer marginal edge of the member l5 maybe raised as shown at I9 for enhancing the luminous tube eiect of theband of light. This, however, is not absolutely necessary, as inpractice it has been found that the desired effect is produced withoutthe raised portion I9.

From the above, it will be noted that I have produced a sign structurewhich is very simple in construction and assembly, containing only a fewparts, but which willpresent in operation a highly attractiveappearance. It also is to be understood that I do not limit myself tothe specific shape or size of the sign structure illustrated, as thedesired effect may be produced by an illuminated hollow member of anysize or shape having a front opening which is closed by an opaque platemember, except for a narrow band or passage through which the interiorof the hollow member may be viewed.

It is believed that my invention, its mode of construction and assembly,and many of its advantages should bereadily understood from theforegoing without further description, and it should also be manifestthat While perferred embodiments of the invention, have been shown anddescribed for illustrative purposes, the structural details arenevertheless capable of wide variation Within the purview of myinvention as dened in the appended claim.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United Statesis:

A luminous sign of the character described, comprising a base, a sourceof illumination mounted on said base, a hollow shell surrounding saidsource of illumination and having a dull 1inish provided on the innersurface thereof, said shell being open at its forward end, and an opaqueplate member for partially closing said open end, said opaque memberbeing supported at its bottom edge on the base and having its outer edgespaced from the edge of said shell to produce a narrow space whereby,whenthe interior of said shell is illuminated, the band of light issuingthrough said space will present the effect of a luminescent tube.

HYMAN C. HAMMER.

